Cold sores are caused by a form of the Herpes Simplex Virus known as HSV-1. They exhibit as painful ulcers around the mouth and lips. Cold sores are also called fever blisters and are very common. This virus is similar to (but not the same as) the virus that causes genital herpes, which is HSV-2. While they are different viruses, both can be found on the lips and on the genitalia. Those infected with either virus can also spread the viruses through close personal contact during kissing, oral sex, or any oral contact.[1][2][3]
Steps
Healing a Cold Sore Through Diet
- Eat lysine-rich foods. Lysine is an amino acid that some studies have shown to help treat and prevent cold sore outbreaks by blocking arginine, which is another amino acid that is required for viral growth.[4][5][6] Lysine-rich foods include fish, meat (poultry, lamb, beef), dairy products, mung bean sprouts, and beans.[7]
- You can also take a lysine supplement. The dosage is usually 500-1000 mg every day taken on an empty stomach. The safe limit of lysine is less than 3000 mg a day, so don’t take any more than the recommended dosage.[8]
- Avoid foods that are high in arginine. Arginine is also an amino acid, but one that serves as a building block for the herpes virus, helping it to spread. The highest concentrations of arginine are found in whole grains, seeds, nuts and chocolate.
- Stay away from acidic foods. This is particularly important if they will come in contact with the cold sore should you eat them. The herpes virus thrives in an acidic environment, so it is important to keep all acid away from the sores. Acidic foods to avoid include citrus fruits, tomatoes and anything with vinegar.
- Take a daily zinc supplement. Zinc may help boost your immune system and help prevent future cold sores. The recommended dose to boost your immune system is 10 mg/day for adult men and women.[9] For children, consult their pediatrician.
- There are also zinc creams that you can use. An example is Virunderim gel, which contains 10% zinc sulfate.[10] You can use this for up to twelve days at the first symptoms of a cold sore to help minimize the duration.
- Eat to boost your immune system and help your body to fight off the virus. Include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet daily. Some of the best choices for boosting the immune system are cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, onion and garlic.
Treating with Household Items
- Ice the cold sore as soon as you feel it forming. Repeat the application regularly. The herpes virus requires a moist, warm environment to grow. Cool the sore and keep it from warming back up to prevent it from growing bigger and to speed up healing.
- Apply lemon balm or lemon extract directly to the sore.[11] Soak a cotton ball in the lemon balm and dab it on the cold sore 2 to 3 times a day.
- Make a salt, milk and lemon juice treatment. Add a little lemon juice and milk to salt. The acid in the lemon juice is buffered by the protein in the milk, so it won't sting as much. Roll the mixture into a ball. Dab on the cold sore once a day. After application, dab a little aloe vera on the cold sore.
- Put salt on a cold sore.[12] Moisten your finger and then dip it in regular table salt. Put your salty finger on the cold sore and press gently for 30 seconds to allow the salt time to enter the sore. Wash your hands with hot, soapy water after touching the sore.
- Apply a teabag to a cold sore.[13] Soak a tea bag in hot water, allow it to cool, and then apply the wet bag to the sore for 5 to 10 minutes. Use a fresh tea bag and repeat the process every 1 to 2 hours.
Treating with Herbs
- Use a topical oil, such as lavender oil or melissa oil. Both are known to speed the healing of cold sores. Apply the oil to the sore several times a day.
- Use an herbal remedy.
- Dab the sore with the topical form of Saint John's wort several times a day, following packaging instructions carefully. Topical Saint John's wort should only be used externally, and never while taking other forms of Saint John's wort, as too much of the herb can be dangerous.
- Take 1 teaspoon of strong Echinacea root 3 times a day. Swish it around in your mouth for 2 to 3 minutes, then swallow it.
- Apply chamomile tincture to the sore a few times a day. Or, drink chamomile tea and let the hot liquid linger on the sore. Chamomile contains bisabolol, a substance that helps to heal sores on mucous membranes.
Trying Other Solutions
- Avoid touching the cold sores. In addition to aggravating the cold sore, touching it can transfer the HSV-1 virus responsible for cold sores to your fingers. This makes it easier to spread the virus by accident due to other contact. The virus can infect the skin cells with which it comes in contact even when they’re skin cells on another part of your own body. Avoid this complication by avoiding contact with the cold sore as much as possible.
- Wash your hands often. Even when mindfully trying not to touch a cold sore, people often poke at them without thinking. Wash your hands often, especially after realizing that you have touched the cold sore or the general area around your lips and mouth.
- This is especially true before and after eating.
- Stock up on toothbrushes. The virus can continue to live on surfaces such as toothbrushes. To avoid potentially spreading the area in which you get cold sores, start using a new toothbrush as soon as you feel symptoms coming on, and throw it away when the cold sore has healed.
- As an additional safety measure, ensure that your toothbrush does not come into contact with the opening of the toothpaste tube when applying toothpaste.[14]
- Don’t share objects. Avoid sharing towels, razors, eating utensils, or washcloths with anyone. Make sure you wash anything that has potentially come into contact with your cold sore with hot, soapy water.
- Use an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen. One of the known triggers for cold sores is sun exposure.[15][16] By using a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, you can help the cold sore heal by minimizing the damaging effects of the sun.
- Consistently using sunscreen around the area even without an outbreak will help to minimize the recurrence of future cold sores as well.
- Remember to wash your hands both before and after applying the sunscreen.
- Use a moisturizer. You can apply a tiny dab of petroleum jelly or propolis with a Q-tip. Organic moisturizing products that contain lysine are also helpful, such as Basic Organics Lysine Ointment or 100% Pure Lysine + Herbs by Ariva.
- Propolis is a natural, nutrient-rich resin made by bees.
- Make your own moisturizer. If you prefer to know exactly what goes into your natural moisturizer, you can make your own at home with propolis and essential oils. A 3% propolis ointment has been shown to reduce the pain of cold sores.[17] To make the ointment, take 0.5 ounces of propolis (equal to one tablespoon) and add 48.5 ounces of pure coconut oil, which works great as a moisturizer.[18] From there, add one drop of each of the following:
- Camphor oil, which helps with pain reduction
- Echinacea oil, which is an antiviral herb that can help boost the immune system[19][20]
- Licorice oil, which has effective properties against HSV-1[21]
- Andrographis oil, which has both antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties[22]
- Sage oil, which also has antiviral properties to help dry out a cold sore and it a good alternative if you have trouble finding andrographis oil[23]
Minimizing the Risk of Future Outbreaks
- Examine your risk for future outbreaks. Many of those who test positive for the HSV-1 virus do not experience cold sores, and many more don’t have recurrent cold sores after initial outbreaks.[24] However, those at a higher risk for recurrent cold sores include those with:[25]
- A weakened immune system, i.e. are immunosuppressed
- HIV/AIDS, which is a cause of immunosuppression
- Eczema
- Cancer who are taking chemotherapy
- An organ transplant, which means the patient is taking immunosuppressant drugs to prevent organ rejection
- Severe burns
- Examine your potential outbreak triggers. Certain triggers are tied to the likelihood of a person experiencing future outbreaks as well. These triggers include:
- Fever of any kind (whether from another viral or a bacterial infection)
- Menstruation
- Stress of any kind (physical, mental, or emotional)
- Fatigue
- Sun Exposure
- Surgery
- Avoid too much time in the sun. Since sun exposure is a trigger for cold sore outbreaks, you should minimize your time in the sun. Remember always to wear sunscreen as well to minimize effects when you are outside.
- Eat a balanced diet. A balanced, nutritious diet can help reduce triggers like fatigue and stress. The main components of a healthy diet include:
- Lots of fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. Include a variety of both fruits (except citrus) and vegetables. Both fruit and vegetables contain vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fiber to keep you as healthy as you can be.
- Complex carbohydrates versus simple sugars. This means that you should stay away from processed and packaged foods. They often seem simpler, but during the processing and packaging, all kinds of sugars are added, including high-fructose corn syrup.
- These sugars are associated with glucose-intolerance (pre-diabetes), diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and heart disease as well as alterations in the gut bacteria.[26][27]
- Increased amounts of fish and lean poultry in your diet (as well as decreasing the amounts of red meat).
- Beans and legumes, which are excellent sources of vitamins and minerals. They do contain phytic acid, but normal cooking should release most of the minerals and allow them to be absorbed by your body.
- Don’t forget to keep drinking water and staying hydrated. Drink at least 6-8 8-ounce glasses of water each day.
- Get plenty of sleep. Poor sleep schedules have an effect on both stress and fatigue levels. Ensure that you get 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night.
- Avoid stress. Though often unavoidable at work or at home, try to avoid stressful situations as much as possible. This can mean walking away from a situation or something as simple as taking a few minutes away from your desk at work. Other steps you can take to avoid stress or at least balance it include:
- Spending time with friends[28]
- Going for a walk or to the gym[29]
- Introducing deep breathing or meditation techniques into your daily routine[30][31] You can find a guide to these techniques at How to Breathe Deeply and How to Meditate.
- Boost your immune system. In addition to diet and exercise, you can take other steps to boost your immune system as well. These steps include not smoking, drinking only in moderation, avoiding sickness and other infections by washing your hands regularly, and controlling your blood pressure.
- See your doctor. Cold sores rarely lead to any complications, and they don’t typically require a trip to your doctor. However, you should make an appointment to see your doctor if:[32]
- You get cold sores more than 2-3 times a year
- Your cold sores don’t heal within two weeks
- You get sick frequently, which may signify a weakened immune system
- The cold sores are very painful
- Your eyes are irritated when you have a cold sore, which may indicate further infection
Warnings
- There are many other theories on how to heal cold sores. Some of them include applying things like nail polish remover, astringents or toothpaste. Most of these remedies are not effective, and some could burn your skin or cause other complications. Consult your doctor before trying them.
- Many people get HSV-1 as infants and children. The virus can be spread by skin-to-skin contact; from kissing; using the same eating utensil; or sharing a toothbrush, razor, lip balm, lipstick, towel, or washcloth. HSV-2, on the other hand, is primarily transmitted through some form of sexual contact.[33]
- Cold sores are caused by viruses and usually occur around the mouth or lips. They are not the same thing as canker sores, which have no known cause and occur inside the mouth.
- Don't use lysine without checking with your medical provider if you are pregnant or nursing.
Related wikiHows
- How to Tell if You Have a Cold Sore
- How to Prevent a Cold Sore from Spreading
- How to Prevent a Cold Sore from Forming
- How to Treat a Cold Sore or Fever Blisters
Sources and Citations
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